Automatic circuit closer for electric signal lights and signs



- Dec. 3,1929. w. E. NAGEM 1,733,444

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND SIGNS' Filed Dec. 10. 1927 ZSheets-Sheet I INVENTOR BY MEJWaz/v ATTORNEY m. 3, 1929. w. E. NAGEM ,73 444 AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND SIGNS Filed Dec. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zaze INVENTOR Wi /V405 ATTORNEY of the disk t Patented Doc. 3, 1929 UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE WHILIAI E. NAGEH, 01' LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA AUTOIATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOB ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND SIGNS Application died December 10, 1927. sci-m1 in. 289,158.

This invention relates to electric signal lights and signs and more particularly to an automatic circuit closer therefor.

A primary object of the invention is to provideasimple and inexpensive circuit closer e flasher which, while rimari- 1y intended or use in alternately c anging t e colored lights at definite intervals to suit the; needs of trailic where they are to be used,

m may also be used in other systems where signals are r uired.

In car mg out these objects, the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the m advantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which;

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a street crossing with a traflic signal controlled by the automatic circuit closer constituting this invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit closer with the wiring therefor, showing it connected with a trafiic signal,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the circuit closer embodying this invention,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the con- 30 tact carrying wheel or disk constituting a part of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 8 is also a similar view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated the circuit closer constituting this invention is shown used in connection with a traflic signal 1 sus nded from a cable 2 carried by poles 3 and located at diagonal] opposite corners of a street crossing and through which the wiring for the signal lights passes. The signal 1 comprises a casing 5 divided into a plurality of compartments three of which have openings therein and inwhich are located electric light bulbs. The openings 6, 7 and 8 of these compartments are arranged opposite the bulbs and arepreferably covered.

shown in operative position,-

tion comprises a revolubly mounted disk 10' composed of insulating material and having aflixed to one face thereof a plurality of concentric annular contacts, three of which are here shown, although obviously any desired number may be employed. These contact rings, which are numbered 11, 12 and 13, may be composed of any suitable metal and are preferably about one inch wide and spaced about three-eighths of an inch apart.

On the other face of this disk 10, which we will term the rear face, is secured a make-andbreak ring 15 composed of a plurality of metal segments four of which are here shown and numbered 16, 17, 18 and 19. These segments are arranged end to end to form the ring 15 and are spaced apart at said ends as is shown clearly in Fi 2.

The disk 10 is fixed to a shaft 14 journaled in an upstanding supporting structure 20, shown in the form of a post or standard and through which said shaft passes and has fixed thereto a gear 21 which is preferably a two inch gear. This two-inch gear 21 meshes with a one-half inch cog gear 22 carried by a' shaft 23 which is also journaled in the standard and carries a six inch gear wheel 24 which is in the form of a Worm gear Wheel and with which meshes a worm gear 25 journaled in abearing 26 on an arm 27 The shaft on which the worm gear 25 is fixed has se--.

cured thereto a four inch gear 28 which meshes with a cog wheel 29 fixed to a motor driven shaft 30. It will thus be seen that when the motor 31 is operated that the disk 10 will be revolved through the gearmechanism just described, his revolution of the disk being adapted for a purpose presently to to be made at the point shown at 40. The bell 9 isv also connected by the same wire 39 and by the wire 36 with the lamp in the inbreaks the circuit when it engages the various segmentsforming the ring 15. This contact 41 is connected by the wire 42 to the other pole of the city main at a point shown at 43, so that when one of the segments ofthe ring 15 is engaged with the contact 41, the circuit is completed between the segment with which the contact is engaged and the respective ring on the other face of the disk connected with said segment.

It will thus be seen that when the disk 10 revolves and the contact 41 engages the segment 16 the top light opposite the opening 6 of the signal casing will be lit, and will continue lighted as long as said contact remains in engagement with said segment. When the disk in its continued rotation causes segment 17 to be engaged with the contact 41, the center light will burn and the bell 9 will ring, and this will continue until the segment 18 contacts with the contactor 41, which causes the light opposite the opening 8 to be lit. When the turning of the disk brings the segment 19 into contact with the contactor 41, the light opposite the opening 7 is again lit. As shown, the disk with the segments on the rear face thereof are so proportioned and timed that it takes sixty seconds for the segment 16 to pass from under the contact 41; twenty seconds for the segments 17 and 19 to pass from thereunder, said segments being of the same length, and sixty seconds for the segment 18 to pass under said contact, so that the top and bottom lights will be lit sixty seconds each, while the center lights will be lit only twenty seconds. It is, of course, to be understood that these segments may be so proportioned and the number multiplied or diminished that this may be varied. It is also, of course, understood that the size of the disk 10 may be increased or decreased for this purpose.

It will thus be seen that this disk type flasher will automatically control the lights or signs in connection with which it is used, and when once installed, it will continuously operate until the current is shut off therefrom.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be source of electric current and arranged in the resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim 1. A circuit closer comprising a supporting structure, a revoluble member mounted in said structure and having a series of concentric annular contacts on one face, said con tacts being spaced radially apart, a series of segmental contacts on the other face of said member and arranged in end to end relation to form a circular series, the contacts on one face being electrically connected with those on the other, contacts mounted on said structure and engaged with the annular contact and adapted to be connected with the object to be controlled, and a contactor arranged in the path ofthe segmental contacts for successive engagement thereby, and means for continuously rotating said revoluble member.

2. A flasher for trafiic signals and the like comprising a revolubly mounted disk having a plurality of annular contacts on one face, and a series of'segmental contacts on the other face, the segmental contacts being arranged in circumferential alinement, stationary contacts for engagement with the annular contacts and adapted to be connected with the lights to be energized, said segmental and an nular contacts being electrically connected so that when one of the segments is energized, the corresponding annular contact will be correspondingly energized, and a contactor arranged in the path of said segmental contacts and adapted to be connected with an electric source.

3. A flasher for signals and the like comprising a revolubly mounted disk having a plurality of annular contacts on one face thereof spaced radially from each other, a plurality of segmental contacts mounted on the other face of said disk in circumferential alinement with each other and electrically connected with the annular contacts, one of said segments being connected with one of said annular contacts, a plurality of stationary contacts wired for connection with the lights to be lit and engaged with the annular contacts, and a contactor connected with a source of electric current and arranged in the path of the segmental contacts.

4;. A flasher for signals and the like comprising a revolubly mounted disk having a plurality of annular contacts on one face thereof spaced radially from each other, a plurality of segmental contacts mounted on the other face of said disk in circumferential alinement with each other and electrically connected with the annular contacts, one-.of said segments being connected with one of said annular contacts, aplurality of stationary contacts wired for connection with the lights to be lit and engaged with the annular contacts, and a contactor connected with a path of the segmental contacts, and means for slowly revolving said disk.

Signed at-Lake Charles, in the parish of Oalcasieu and State of Louisiana, this 6th day of December, A. D. nineteen hundred twenty-seven (1927).

WILLIAM E. NAGEM. 

